Nigella Kitchen

Nigella Kitchen Episodes

Nigella's week is a jumble of whipping up fast food and more leisurely cooking at the weekend. There are ravenous kids who want their food now, people dropping round after work and a kitchen full of hungry people of all ages on Saturday and Sunday but whoever & whatever Nigella has it covered with her totally decadent peanut butter cheesecake, her Mother's Praised chicken, a chic easy Roast Seafood feast for friends and a child friendly, steaming bowl of Small pasta with Salami. You know it makes sense.

When it comes to cooking Nigella finds inspiration anywhere and everywhere. San Francisco inspired the saintly sourdough croutons that adorn her Spatchcocked Poussin with baby leaf salad. TV inspired the fabulously kitsch and kooky Grasshopper Pie, and for a spectacularly quick and tasty supper Nigella brings you Korean Calamari a recipe that came to her whilst partaking in another favourite pastime, shopping.

Truly heavenly meals don't have to start life with painfully expensive ingredients - Nigella's got a host of sublime recipes that hale from far more modest beginnings. Pork Knuckles may not be the prettiest bones in the butcher shop, but beer braised with apples and potatoes, they are totally divine and cheap to boot. You'd never guess a stunning vegetable curry can be made from the wilting contents of your Monday morning fridge raid or a Pantry Paella can be made entirely from the contents of your treasured store cupboard... or eggs and bacon can be turned into such a delicious salad. Nigella shows us how.

Nigella doesn't need to leave the house to travel she has the whole world in her kitchen and is a full time kitchen tourist. From Asia - delicious fast and easy chicken teriyaki with noodles and sugar snap peas. From Italy - an incredible Venetian carrot cake with rum mascarpone cream, from Spain delicious churros and for a singles trip - a lone linguine with a dash of white truffle oil.

Nigella's idea of a perfect break is a weekend culinary staycation in the kitchen. For Friday night supper with a friend there's Scallops with Thai Scented pea puree and for Sunday lunch the ultimate comfort meal of meatloaf, baked potatoes and divine blue cheese dressing. Followed by strawberry and almond crumble - so comforting there's not even any need to chew.

There are some flavours Nigella really can't live without. Lemon really does play the starring role in lemon polenta cake a teatime treat or dinner party dessert. Garlic is deliciously sweet and caramelised her one pot wonder, Chicken with 40 cloves garlic. And chorizo and chick pea stew is a full-on flavorsome feast thrown together to enormous effect from a pantry and fridge forage.

Once you've seen how easy these recipes are to make there'll be no stopping you. Need a delicious dinner in minutes for hungry mouths? Tarragon chicken with green beans and asparagus is the answer. Or, how about a full-on fiesta in no time at all? Mexican Lasagne with Avocado Salsa and Florida fizz has it all.

Whether you're cooking for family, friends or just yourself suppertime needs to be easy. So for those evenings when you need speed, ease and restoration there's lemony salmon with Cherry tomato couscous. If you've people coming over and are pressed for time - stick Spanish Chicken with Chorizo and Potatoes in the oven, whip up a salad and your work is done. Need dessert in a hurry - try Nigella's No-fuss fruit tart - so named - because it is. And when you're home alone and deserving a treat slut's spaghetti is the answer.

When Nigella wants food she wants it now! And luckily she has a battery of fast food ideas up her sleeve so when she, the kids or friends are hungry - and they always are - there's no waiting around. For friends there's super fast Roast lamb with port and rosemary with Rapid Roastini, for a crowd, make your own Chicken fajitas, for dinner at the double, Crustless Pizza, and Orange and blackberry trifle for an instant dessert.

Nigella believes in that old adage - try anything once - and is certain you'll want to make these recipes over and over again. How about black Squink Risotto, for a real leap of faith, a beautiful yet sombre dish that will make a real impact at your dinner table. Beef shins might not be easy on the eye, but when braised with richly spiced and aromatic Asian flavors, they are to die for. And all the more special paired with a gloriously colorful cold shredded salad, yes salad! And Salty and sweet may not sound like a match made in heaven, but I defy any one to walk away from a plateful of my sweet and salty crunch nut bars, without devouring the lot. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

Sometimes it's worth going that extra mile and if you're looking for indulgence look no further than Nigella's spicy jumbo chilli sauce, the perfect dipping sauce washed down with an irresistible Americano cocktail. For a romantic night in there's Roast duck legs with potatoes and a green salad and for dessert, none other than the devils own devils food cake.